News

May 16, 2024

New facility will bring back inpatient psychiatric services

WEST CHESTER — Where there are now none, there will soon be 72 new inpatient beds for mental health patients in Chester County. For what some local health care professionals say created a “mental

WEST CHESTER — Where there are now none, there will soon be 72 new inpatient beds for mental health patients in Chester County.

For what some local health care professionals say created a “mental health desert,” the last psychiatric inpatient unit in Chester County was closed when Tower Health shuttered Brandywine Hospital 19 months ago.

The new 48,750 square foot, 72-bed state-of-the-art hospital at the former hospice and rehab center, located across Marshall Street from Chester County Hospital, will offer the full continuum of inpatient and outpatient services for adults in order to meet the community’s need for behavioral health services, with an approximately $20 million renovation cost.

Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell and Michelle Kichline awarded a $2 million-plus grant to Haven Behavioral Healthcare to support the renovation of the facility. The swift commitment by the County was in response to the great need for in-patient behavioral health services following the closure of the facility at Brandywine Hospital last year.

Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell and Michelle Kichline awarded a $2 million-plus grant to Haven Behavioral Healthcare to support the renovation of the facility. The swift commitment by the County was in response to the great need for in-patient behavioral health services following the closure of the facility at Brandywine Hospital last year.

The facility will be operated by Haven Behavioral Hospital and Outpatient Services. Haven Behavioral Health Care manages a network of seven licensed acute care behavioral hospitals and several outpatient facilities nationwide, providing a ray of hope for individuals dealing with intricate mental health and substance use challenges.

The building is owned by Turks Head Health Services, in partnership with local real estate developer John Ciccarone. The building’s owner is a for-profit subsidiary of the Chester County Hospital and Health System.

The facility will service both in and out-patients and will be open for direct assessments 24 hours per day.

Haven has announced that Jeff Hunt has been named Chief Executive Officer of the new hospital — Haven Behavioral Hospital and OP Services of West Chester. Hunt has over 35 years of experience as a senior executive healthcare leader in both regional and national healthcare corporations.

He joined Haven in 2021 after serving as Vice President of Academic Affairs for Tower Health in Reading. Prior to that, he held the position of CEO at Brandywine Hospital.

Hunt said he “will bring his expertise in implementing value-based goals and objectives to address the community’s needs while delivering the highest standards of quality, innovation and patient experiences.”

Hunt is busy at work.

“We will be here to service the community, patients, county professionals and anyone who needs help 24/7,” Hunt said. “I want to make it easy for patients to have prompt access to the most clinically appropriate level of care.”

On Wednesday, the building was a beehive of activity with dozens of construction workers preparing for the opening. Hunt expects to accept patients during the first quarter of 2024 and the facility will employ from 180 to 195 full-time staffers.

In-patients will spend on average 10 to 14 days at the facility. Both voluntary and involuntary patients will be admitted when a clinician determines appropriateness.

Thirty-six double occupancy and semi-private patient rooms are located on the second and third floors of the three-story building. Each room will be equipped with psych-safe furniture, beds and restrooms.

Hunt said that Haven prioritizes the safety of the patients, staff and visitors as well as the community.

“We measure numerous indicators to identify and proactively address in the areas of high-reliability safety, quality outcomes and patient and employee satisfaction,” Hunt said.

Cameras will be monitored around the clock. The construction of the facility includes many upgrades to the windows, doors and walls, in order to improve safety, even compared to the existing strict mental and behavioral health standards.

The rooms are well-lit, displaying an abundance of natural light, which will enhance the patient experience with therapeutic benefits.

There will be a separate outpatient entrance for patients with varying levels of therapeutic modalities and medication management service needs.

A courtyard will offer appropriate patients an opportunity to have time outdoors. When completed, this will give patients a chance to garden, then donate vegetables to shelters and the needy.

Students from several local schools, including West Chester, Alvernia and Drexel universities will be offered clinical rotations.

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